Evil prednisone weaning | Arthritis Information
OK guys. I know and understand why so many of you are prednisone fans. It has made me able to cope for 1.5 years. I decided to wean off it for two reasons, I have not had a big flare since the holidays, just ra aches and pains which I am getting used to
I got off prednisone three days ago. I took a long time weaning and did it as everyone has advised. I have been up all night pretty much the last two nights. Lots of pain all over. I have been taking pain meds which I was rarely having to do before I got off the pred. The amazing thing is even with pain meds and ambien I am up all night - just can't get comfortable. All my joints are sore to put it mildly.
I would like to hear from those of you that have weaned off of pred. Was this your experience? How long did it last? Also, I am going to visit my brother in Sedona next week. I don't want to be miserable on this special vacation before I return to work. Have you ever just taken like 5 mg. on bad days and gone off again. I don't want to get back on it period - but once in awhile for special circumstances - I would be willing to use it to get me by.
My strategy tonight is I am not going to bed until I just can't keep my eyes open. I have napped the last couple days but I would say I have not had more than 3 hours sleep each day in two days. I dread going to bed, tossing and turning and unable to get comfortable so I am going to stay up late and then try to take a sleeping pill - ambien and a pain pill.
I wish I could tell you I have already started losing weight
Wishing everyone good night's sleep and happy days. Rox
roxy38801.0084606481I've been off prednisone for about 10 years now so I can't really remember how things were when I stopped taking it. All I remember was that we just kept increasing or adding the meds until I felt better. What I'm wondering is maybe you need something else added to your mix? Has your doctor talked about that?
As far as the sleeping goes, I find that if I nap during the day, I have a very difficult time getting to sleep that night. I try not to nap during the day and I sleep much better at night.
My mom told me that when she weaned after being on it for about two
years, she went down about one milligram every two months. She
took it extremely gradual and had no problems.
Also, my understanding is that it isn't a spot use drug. It stops
your gland from working, and your body has to learn to compensate for
the drug and start working again. If you jump on or off, your
body may or may not compensate and it can have serious effects if you
don't use it gradually.
Personally, I would use a low dose and just slowly wean off that
gradually. Give yourself the time to adjust. It sounds like
you have a lot going on, and it would be stressful to deal with so much
pain during all that time. You know you can wean at any time, but
I would "if it were me" wean at a better time and do it very slowly at
a lowest possible dose.
My mom got a pill splitter and split them as many times as needed and
went so slow that she really had no side effects. It was her
doctor's method that she followed though.
I really know it is a personal decision though, so good luck with however it turns out.
arizonara38801.4343634259
Arizona, I agree with you. You have to wean slowly. I did the cut in half, cut in half, etc etc for almost three months. It is time. I have to lose this weight to do my job and I am going to make every effort to keep my job. I think a lot of my aches and pains is the weather has been so wierd, a new storm every day almost. UGH. Too bad we can't just pop a pred. instead of a pain pill
Anyway, thanks guys. Excited about going to see my brother. Self conscience, never been this heavy. I have to get out those elastic linen outfits
Happy, pain free days..............
roxy38801.5147337963I love Sedona. It is one of my favorite places in Arizona. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth, IMO!
My daughter went camping there last week for spring break with my
brother's family while I recuperated. It was wonderful and she
had a blast.
I agree that Sedona is a beautiful place. My husband and I went there about two years ago and I'd like to go back when I can get this flare up under control. I wasn't able to do much hiking when we were there due to a bad ankle but the sites were spectacular anyway.
Hey Rox-sound like you decreased as well as you could have. I do agree that the napping is probably part of the problem. Also you should try taking the Ambien and a pain pill and an anti-inflammatory at bedtime right off. Dont wait for a few hours of tossing and turning first. Maybe even try a glass of milk (triptophan) and reading or c-span or what ever makes you sleepy.See, I will have to wean off the pred, and I am paranoid about being on
it. I don't know how I should do it. The doc put me on 15
to start and told me to drop it down to 10 when I am feeling better,
but that I will have to be on 10 for a while. She gave no
instructions about weaning.
I have been on it for five days. When should I drop to ten and
should I do it in half doses, for how long? When you are newly on
it, does it matter how fast you move off it? I really am not sure.
Arizona, I think pred. is a lifesaver. You may want to stay on it until your meds feel like they are working well enough for you. I was on 25 mg. pred a lot of the time. Talk to your rd. How long have you been on it? If it has not been more than a year, I would not worry. Prednisone definitely has its purpose. The typical one is down 1/2 for a week, then 1/2 another week until you can get down to 1 and hooooooooray, you get off it. I will post pics of Sedona. It is such a healing place. I hope we get warm weather. I am feeling better tonight but I screwed up and slept all day For me, until they work out what meds I'm REALLY going to be on (still
waiting about the Humira), Prednisone lets me walk, type, use my hands. I
can't walk far (a 10 mile walk didn't used to be anything to me), and live
my life. My only concern is that my drs. keep taking me from 20 mg. or
more to nothing in a week or two. Up down, up down, since December.
What is that doing to me? They keep saying it's short term, so it doesn't
really matter.I decreased by 2.5 mg each week. I dropped the dose each time the day after my MTX injection. You could potentially drop faster (but maybe have more swelling) or drop slower but in my case I wanted to get off of it ASAP. Typically even if a person is put on steroids temporarily for example a respiratory illness, they still are usually tapered off. I am talking about even 5-7 days total on the medication. So yes, I would recommend always tapering the dose down and not just stopping abruptly.
Your advice sincerely helps me a lot. I have been putting way too
much thought into this. I am going to decrease 2.5 on Monday,
which will be my 7 day mark. If I feel well, I will stay at that
for a week, then go down in another week to 10. I am going to
stay there til I start MTX and it kicks in.
You guys are so helpful. I would be so much more worried about this stuff without you all.
arizonara38802.5165740741Do sane chickens get mood swings? Being not of sound mind and body, I am not able to make that judgment.
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